A couple of weeks back, I responded to a question about dampness near a first-floor fireplace that our reader thought might be related to a recurring leak in the ceiling of the room above. Readers have this advice to offer: From Joe Ponessa, professor emeritus at Rutgers University and building-science consultant: If the chimney also contains the flue for a furnace or boiler, the other possible source of the water is a blockage in the flue. A squirrel nest is one likely cause...

Chimneys exhaust lethal combustion gases from household appliances like gas-fired water heaters, and from woodstoves and fireplaces. That's why chimneys are built with double walls, typically, an inner flue of hollow clay tiles surrounded by either brick or concrete block. For gases or flames to break through into living spaces, both layers of protection have to be breached. It seems nearly foolproof — and needs to be because the masonry is surrounded by framing and other combustible materials.

Chimneys exhaust lethal combustion gases from household appliances like gas-fired water heaters, and from woodstoves and fireplaces. That's why chimneys are built with double walls, typically, an inner flue of hollow clay tiles surrounded by either brick or concrete block. For gases or flames to break through into living spaces, both layers of protection have to be breached. It seems nearly foolproof — and needs to be because the masonry is surrounded by framing and other combustible materials.

Q We bought a house last year that had a beautiful vented gas fireplace. However, we were told it was in need of a new chimney flue. Because replacing the flue was so expensive, we were told by chimney people that we could seal off the chimney and change to a ventless gas-log set. When I went to a gas fireplace store, they told us that it was unsafe to put ventless logs in a fireplace with the flue sealed off and that we would have to open the...

A clogged chimney at an elementary school on Chicago's Northwest Side sent 39 children and two adults to area hospitals with minor carbon-monoxide poisoning Tuesday. After the boiler was fired up at the private Catholic school, Queen of Angels, 4520 N. Western Ave., students in the four-story brick building began to notice a gaslike smell. "It was like the smell when you leave the oven on," 8th-grader Richa Patel said. Patel, who was in music class at the time, said...

A couple of weeks back, I responded to a question about dampness near a first-floor fireplace that our reader thought might be related to a recurring leak in the ceiling of the room above. Readers have this advice to offer: From Joe Ponessa, professor emeritus at Rutgers University and building-science consultant: If the chimney also contains the flue for a furnace or boiler, the other possible source of the water is a blockage in the flue. A squirrel nest is one likely cause...

Q We bought a house last year that had a beautiful vented gas fireplace. However, we were told it was in need of a new chimney flue. Because replacing the flue was so expensive, we were told by chimney people that we could seal off the chimney and change to a ventless gas-log set. When I went to a gas fireplace store, they told us that it was unsafe to put ventless logs in a fireplace with the flue sealed off and that we would have to open the...

Q. My bathroom and tub surround are completely tiled, with grout in good shape in most cases, but in a few areas such as corners, and where the tub meets the floor, the grout tended to break up, so the tiler caulked over it. And at the floor line, where he used clear caulk, it has turned black. What if I used white caulk instead of clear? -- Tired of Black Mold A. No, it will not work, and caulking is the wrong thing to use, since the grout has stayed intact...

By Bernard Gladstone, New York Times Special Features | February 21, 1992

Q-We have a fireplace on the first floor and another below this in the basement. When we build a fire in the first-floor fireplace, the smell of smoke is strong in the basement. The ash pit has been removed and the chimney flue connected to the basement fireplace has been capped. It's been suggested that a stainless steel liner be installed in the first-floor chimney. Do you think this will solve the problem? A-If the two chimney flues are inside the same brick chimney structure, and if...

A week before Christmas, an Albany Park family narrowly escaped tragedy when the oldest son woke up early Thursday and found relatives incoherent or passed out. The Chicago Fire Department said the occupants of the apartment in the 3600 block of West Lawrence Avenue were suffering from carbon monoxide poisoning. "If the son had not discovered the other family members, it would not have been long before all of them could have been dead," said Fire...

Q. My bathroom and tub surround are completely tiled, with grout in good shape in most cases, but in a few areas such as corners, and where the tub meets the floor, the grout tended to break up, so the tiler caulked over it. And at the floor line, where he used clear caulk, it has turned black. What if I used white caulk instead of clear? -- Tired of Black Mold A. No, it will not work, and caulking is the wrong thing to use, since the grout has stayed intact...

RADIANT HEAT IS A satisfying thing on a cold day. But gathering around a glowing fireplace is a true winter pleasure. We always knew that a STEAM RADIATOR couldn't promote coziness or congeniality or romance the way a fireplace can. What we didn't know was that a fireplace is nothing less than the "key to happy living," according to a 1960 Tribune story. "It's a TRANQUILIZER, an IQ booster, the finest insurance for the success of any party, a baby sitter, a moderator and a host of other things!"

Wauconda fire officials said an overheated fireplace flue led to a fire at a home at 520 Oak Drive, which caused an estimated $75,000 damage Monday afternoon. Investigator Kim Williams said the house caught fire about 5:30 p.m. Monday, about a half-hour after a resident of the home started a fire in the fireplace. Williams said the flue, which was reportedly constructed too close to the structure of the house, overheated and set fire to the walls of the home. The...

With fall's transition between the seasons comes a transition for your home as well. That roof and those four sturdy walls need to protect you from winter's fury, and there are things you can do to help get ready. - Seal masonry surfaces: Apply a sealer to concrete driveways and walkways, brick patios and other exterior masonry. The sealer, available from paint stores and masonry supply retailers, prevents water from penetrating into cracks and crevices where it can freeze and...

A man who became caught in a church chimney told officers he was trying to get in to worship. The 22-year-old, whose name was withheld by police, was found Tuesday with his feet touching the fireplace floor and his torso stuck in the flue. The man was in a house at the back of St. Peter's Lutheran Church. Fire Capt. Russell Garcia said the man was given oxygen and firefighters extracted him through the top of the chimney.

Four people became unconscious or were sickened by carbon monoxide during a Sunday morning service at Holy Cross Catholic Church in Batavia, according to Fire Department officials. The three who lost consciousness were treated at Delnor-Community Hospital in Geneva and released, Battalion Chief Randy Banker said. The fourth person who tested positive for carbon monoxide was taken to another hospital, but not by the Fire Department, Banker said. Although fire and Nicor gas company...

Q--I need a professional opinion. I had a high-efficiency furnace installed four years ago, and I noticed now that my chimney brick has started to crumble and coat with a white powder. I've been told that because of the buildup of condensation in the chimney, I need a liner. What would be the best kind to buy, and can you give me a general idea of the cost? Donna Kowatch, via e-mail A--You've been told right, according to Bob Walsh, a supervisor instructor with Peoples Gas Technical Training Center.

Q. I have an attractive wood-burning stove in my family room. The problem I have is, all year long we get the smell of burnt wood throughout our house. It is especially strong on days when it rains in the summer. I attributed this to soot in the brick chimney, to which the wood stove is connected. I had the chimney cleaned by a licensed chimney sweep, but it did not solve the problem. Is this smell of burnt wood just something that all people with wood-burning stoves must...

By Bernard Gladstone, New York Times Special Features | October 13, 2000

Q--The white grout in my bathroom wall tile is badly discolored, especially around the tub and shower area. I've scrubbed and treated the tiles with bleach, etc., but it helps very little, so I want to replace all the grout with new material that will last longer. Is it possible for me to do this myself, and if so, can you give me some idea of what is involved and what materials or tools I will need? A--You can do it yourself, but it is a time-consuming chore that requires care and attention to detail.